Food Sleeve for Use on Roller Grill

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, packaging for use on a roller grill may include a generally cylindrical, hollow sleeve having at least one open end. In another aspect, the packaging may include a food product may be placed into a wrapper, and the food product and wrapper may be inserted into a generally cylindrical, hollow sleeve. In a further aspect of the invention, a method for packaging a food product and heating it on a roller grill may include wrapping a food product in a wrapper, inserting a food product and a wrapper into a generally cylindrical, hollow sleeve having at least one open end, and placing a sleeve onto rollers of a roller grill.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to food packaging, more specifically, to a food sleeve designed to rotate on a roller grill so that the contents of the sleeve may be evenly heated.

2. Background of the Invention

Convenience stores and gas stations offer a variety of food and snacks to customers “on the go.” Many such stores utilize a device known as a roller grill, which consists of a series of elongated rollers that are heated to a desired temperature. The food product is then placed between the rollers with the goal of keeping the food product evenly heated. Probably the most well-known example of a food product heated on a roller grill is the hot dog. Other examples are burritos, taquitos, and egg rolls.

One problem encountered when heating a food product using a roller grill is ensuring that the food product is evenly heated while preventing the product from burning. Burning of the food product may arise due to irregularities in the shape of the food product that is placed on the roller grill. For example, an egg roll is not perfectly cylindrical in shape, e.g., it has ends that are folded over. If an egg roll is placed on a roller grill, the irregularities in its shape may prevent it from rolling, and accordingly the egg roll may burn.

Another problem encountered when heating a food product using a roller grill is that the integrity of the food product may be compromised if it is placed directly on the roller grill. For example, an egg roll may begin to disintegrate over time as it sits directly on a roller grill.

Still another problem encountered when heating a food product by placing it directly on a roller grill without any packaging is that the food may be exposed to direct handling by customers or vendors.

What is needed is packaging that overcomes problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention, packaging for a food product to be heated on a roller grill comprises a generally cylindrical, hollow sleeve having at least one open end.

Another embodiment of the invention is packaging for an egg roll to be heated on a roller grill, comprising a generally cylindrical, hollow sleeve having at least one open end, a wrapper, wherein the egg roll is placed within the wrapper, and the egg roll and the wrapper are placed within the sleeve so that the wrapper is visible from at least one end of the sleeve.

Another aspect of the invention is a method for packaging a food product and heating it on a roller grill, comprising wrapping a food product in a wrapper, inserting the food product and the wrapper into a generally cylindrical, hollow sleeve having at least one open end, and placing the sleeve and the food product onto rollers of a roller grill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a food sleeve on rollers of a roller grill.

FIG. 2 shows a sleeve, a food product and a wrapper.

FIG. 3 shows a food product inserted into a wrapper and a sleeve.

FIG. 4 shows a food product and wrapper ready to be inserted into a sleeve.

FIG. 5 shows a food product and wrapper inserted into a sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown generally in FIG. 1, packaging 10 for a food product 12 to be heated on a roller grill comprises a generally cylindrical, hollow sleeve 20 having at least one open end 21 and sleeve length 22. The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows sleeve 20 having two open ends 21. Sleeve 20 may be made of any suitable material such as cardboard, paperboard or Teflon®.

Additionally, a wrapper 30 may be used to wrap food product 12 before placing it into sleeve 20, as shown in FIGS. 2-5. Wrapper 30 may be made from paper or any other suitable material. For use in the United States, wrapper 30 may be made from any material suitable for FDA approval. Food product 12, wrapper 30 and sleeve 20, as shown in FIG. 5, may then be placed on a roller grill similar to sleeve 20 and food product 12 as shown in FIG. 1.

Food products that may be used with the invention include, but are not limited to egg rolls, hot dogs, bratwurst, chicken wings, extruded fried rice, pizza, sandwiches, cheese steaks, breadsticks and fried chicken. Accordingly, the dimensions of sleeve 20 may vary depending on the food product for which it is intended to be used.

For example, an egg roll that is manufactured by my company may have a length of about 5¼ inches and a diameter of about 1¼ inches. Accordingly, the preferred packaging for my egg roll includes a paper bag that has a length of about 8½ inches and a sleeve having a sleeve length of between about 5 inches and 5½ inches, and more preferably about 5¼ inches and a sleeve diameter 26 of between about 1 inch and 2 inches, and more preferably about 1¼ inches.

As for other food products 12, sleeve 20 has a predetermined sleeve diameter 26, as shown in FIG. 2, sized so that food product 12 may rotate along with sleeve 20. Preferably, sleeve diameter 26 is of such a size so that food product 12 may be easily inserted and removed from sleeve 12, while at the same time securing food product 12 within sleeve 20 so that food product 12 may rotate along with sleeve 20 on the roller grill. This may enable food product 12 to be evenly heated and may prevent the undesirable result of food product 12 being burned.

Sleeve length 22 may be of a length so that food product 12 or wrapper 30 may be prevented from interfering with the rotation of sleeve 20 on a roller grill. For example, while sleeve length 22 may vary, sleeve length 22 preferably may be between 95% and 110% of food product length 24. A length in this range may help to preserve the integrity of food product 12 while it is on a roller grill. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, when food product 12 is inserted into sleeve 20, a substantial portion of food product 12 and wrapper 30 is contained within sleeve 20 so that wrapper 30 and food product 12 may not interfere with the rotation of sleeve 20. In another embodiment, sleeve length 22 may be greater than food product length 24 so that food product 12 and wrapper 30 may be fully covered by sleeve 20.

In another embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2-5, wrapper 30 may be a bag into which food product 12 is placed. The open end 34 of wrapper 30 may then be folded over and inserted into an end of sleeve 20, as shown in FIGS. 4-5. As shown in FIG. 5, open end 34 is folded over and alongside food product 12 in sleeve 20. This may prevent wrapper 30 from opening while it is on the roller grill. Moreover, this may help to secure food product 12 within sleeve 20 so that food product 12 may turn along with sleeve 20 so that food product 12 may be evenly heated without burning. Additionally, when food product 12 and wrapper 30 are inserted into sleeve 20, a portion of wrapper 30 may be visible from one or both ends of sleeve 20, as shown in FIG. 5.

In another embodiment, wrapper 30 may be in the form of a single sheet, which then may be folded around food product 12. The two ends of wrapper 30 may be folded in a similar manner to that discussed above with respect to bag 32 so that the ends are inserted into respective ends of sleeve 20.

Another aspect of the invention is a method for packaging a food product and heating it on a roller grill. The steps include wrapping a food product in a wrapper, and inserting the food product and the wrapper into a generally cylindrical, hollow sleeve having at least one open end, and placing the sleeve and the food product onto rollers of a roller grill. In a further embodiment, the method includes the further step of folding over an open end of the bag before inserting the food product and wrapper into the sleeve. This is illustrated in FIGS. 2-5.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific exemplary embodiment and method herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment and method, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. 

1. Packaging for a food product to be heated on a roller grill, comprising: a generally cylindrical, hollow sleeve having at least one open end.
 2. The packaging of claim 1 further comprising a wrapper, wherein said food product is placed within said wrapper and said food product and said wrapper are placed within said sleeve.
 3. The packaging of claim 2, wherein said wrapper is a paper bag, and wherein an open end of said bag is folded alongside said food product in said sleeve.
 4. The packaging of claim 2, wherein said wrapper is a sheet of paper, wherein a first end of said wrapper is folded over and inserted back into a first end of said sleeve, wherein a second end of said wrapper is folded over and inserted back into a second end of said sleeve, and wherein said wrapper is placed within said sleeve so that said wrapper.
 5. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has a sleeve length and wherein said sleeve length is generally less than a length of a food product that is intended to be placed within said sleeve.
 6. The packaging of claim 5, wherein said sleeve length is between about 95% and about 110% of said length of said food product.
 7. The packaging of claim 2, wherein said sleeve has a diameter of between about 1½ inches and 2 inches.
 7. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is made of paperboard.
 8. The packaging of claim 2, wherein said wrapper is made of stainless paper.
 9. The packaging of claim 1 wherein said food product is an egg roll.
 10. Packaging for an egg roll to be heated on a roller grill, comprising: a generally cylindrical, hollow sleeve having at least one open end; a wrapper, wherein said egg roll is placed within said wrapper and said egg roll and said wrapper are placed within said sleeve so that said wrapper is visible from at least one end of said sleeve.
 11. The packaging of claim 10 wherein said sleeve has a sleeve length, wherein said sleeve length is less than a length of said egg roll that is intended to be placed within said sleeve.
 12. The packaging of claim 11, wherein said length is between about 5 inches and about 5½ inches, and wherein said sleeve has a diameter of between about 1 inch and 2 inches.
 13. The packaging of claim 10, wherein said sleeve is made from paperboard.
 14. The packaging of claim 10 wherein said wrapper is made from paper.
 15. The packaging of claim 10, wherein said wrapper is a bag, and wherein an open end of said bag is folded alongside said food product in said sleeve.
 16. A method for packaging a food product and heating it on a roller grill, comprising: wrapping a food product in a wrapper; inserting said food product and said wrapper into a generally cylindrical, hollow sleeve having at least one open end; placing said sleeve onto rollers of a roller grill.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said wrapper is a bag, and further comprising the step of folding over an open end of said bag and inserting the folded end back into one end of said sleeve.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said wrapper is made from paper.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein said food product is an egg roll. 